https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pinterest.co.uk/amp/pin/350577152232206245/?source=images

Lance wanted his birthday to be lowkey. He didn't want a surprise, a big party, any of that. He wanted Hunk, Allura, and all the tenants of the Holt household, a cake, and a good movie. Some warmth and friendship he could surround himself with.

Of course, Keith was happy to oblige and planned almost everything, but there was one aspect of the party that he hadn't figured out yet. Lance's gift. He didn't want to be too forward- they hadn't been dating for that long anyway, but he did want it to be meaningful, something Lance could cherish.

The shops of their Californian harbor city were perfect, though, holding treasures that Keith just had to find. First, he thought about getting Lance something like a book, so he could curl up and read and have some quiet time to himself, but then Keith decided that was too solitary (he didn't even know if Lance took reading lessons under the sea- he didn't want to embarrass him if he couldn't read).

He thought then of getting him something simple- a few shells, some nail polish, maybe some pearl earrings? Lance would probably like some jewelry, but Keith figured that the earrings might fall out underwater, where the current was strong, and Lance had enough shells and nail polish as it was.

As he walked along the pier, strolling casually with his hands in his pockets, Keith looked out to sea. What would happen once Lance left? Would things just go back to normal? What even was normal now? Now that Keith knew that mermaids were real and there was a mermaid war going on and his best friend was dating the leader of a mermaidian village? It was all too much, but it wasn't like he could turn back.

And yet, he couldn't help but think about it. Would Lance forget about him, just like that? Keith knew he'd never be able to forget Lance, but was he just another human in the long run? Sure, Lance deserved better, but at the same time, Keith couldn't stand the thought of Lance with someone else, mermaid or not.

Keith turned to enter a small shop called "Knick Knots", painted blue. Petite and bright, the little store looked to hold clothing, jewelry, soaps and lotions, totes and bags, and blankets. Soft lo-fi music played through hidden speakers and the sea breeze that floated through the store gave everything an air of soft elegance.

Keith meandered through the store thoughtfully, looking over the products. Nothing really caught his eye until he noticed something at the checkout counter. A large jar of braided ropes. Upon closer inspection, Keith recognized it as a jar of bracelets, the white, braided, rope ones. The clerk, a young woman in a yellow sundress who sat on a stool behind the register, noticed Keith's interest.

"Ah, sailor's bracelets. Those have an interesting past, boyo." Keith looked up at her, nodding. Her hair was up in a turban, but a few dark curls of hair escaped by her ears. "Sailors used to make them to show their knot-tying skills, show-offs. Thought the ropes gave them good fortune and luck. Then, when they came home, they gave them to their sweethearts so that they'd have something to remember them by when they went back to sea. Pretty sweet, if you ask me," the clerk said, fingers straying to her own bracelet.

"Something to remember them by, huh?" Keith murmured, reaching into the jar to pull a pair of bracelets out.

...

Lance was mesmerized by balloons, as was Allura and Hunk. "But how do they float?" Allura demanded, making Shiro burst out laughing.

The spacious kitchen in the beach house was filled with friends and the smell of marbled cake. Hunk had oven mitts on, working with Shiro to make a cake. He'd gotten so excited when Shiro had asked him to help, Lance thought he'd cry from happiness. It was Hunk's dream, after all, to open up a restaurant- whether on land or under the sea, he didn't care.

His cheek had a streak of flour on it, and his shirt had splatters of chocolate and vanilla cake batter on it, and Lance couldn't help but smile with him- he looked so happy. Music played on the stereo- mainstream pop and everyone was talking, listening to funny stories and exchanging comments.

Lance didn't know if this was how a birthday party normally went, but he loved it nonetheless. He'd been even more surprised when everyone showed up with gifts- he'd had no idea that everyone would actually bring him something. His cheeks hurt from smiling so wide.

The cake looked professional by the time that Shiro and Hunk finished, half because Shiro was a perfectionist at heart, half because Hunk was a natural at spreading frosting. As they all sat down at the table, paper plates and party hats scattered everywhere, Keith stood behind Lance and lit the candles on the cake, kissing his cheek after and whispering, "Make a wish and blow them out."

Lance pulled Keith's arms around his shoulders, closing his eyes as everyone (save Allura and Hunk, who didn't know the words) sang happy birthday. Make a wish? What was he supposed to wish for when everything was going so well? He was happier than ever, what more could he ask for?

I wish to stay happy like this for as long as I can.

Lance blew out the candles with a whoosh, and everyone applauded. He felt Keith's lips on the top of his head before he left to get a knife to cut the cake. Lance's heart ached- he didn't know how realistic his wish was.

...

"Is it weird that I wanted to give you your gift in private?" Keith mused, kneading his fingers into Lance's muscled back.

Lance shrugged, "Dunno. Remember, I've never had a birthday before. I wasn't even expecting gifts."

And the gifts had been amazing, no surprise there. Allura and Shiro bought Lance a buttload of cosmetics and face masks, lotions and makeup and brushes. Lance's jaw dropped when he saw the giant Sephora bag, and Shiro promised to teach him about all the different uses of the products. Apparently, he'd opened up to Allura about being a beauty guru, and she'd been so accepting that she requested a makeover like Lance's on Shiro's YouTube channel. He'd been ecstatic.

Hunk had surprised everyone with a gift from Lance's mother- a giant plate of her famous soft-shell crabs. Lance would've felt homesick had it not been for the positive, family-like vibes his friends gave off. The crabs were delicious. Hunk also made Lance a few homemade coupons with things like "I'll make you a big batch of French fries at any time of the day" and "I'll get seaweed from the village for a face mask for you".

Pidge and Matt chipped in with iTunes gift cards and, surprisingly, two aloe plants and a cactus. "They don't need to be watered very often," Matt explained, "And you can take the leaves of the aloe and make face and hair masks with the liquid inside." Lance thought they were even cooler than his angler fish lamp at home.

Now, it was late, after the party. After cake and ice cream and presents, everyone had watched a movie together (The Greatest Showman- Lance loved it) and then Shiro had driven Allura and Hunk back to the ocean. The party had been everything Lance had hoped for and more.

Keith and Lance were sitting up in the attic on Lance's bed, Keith massaging Lance's back by request. "Only because it's your birthday," he'd mumbled, but he was actually enjoying himself. Lance's back was strong and smooth, and he prided himself in being able to work out the knots in his shoulders.

"Okay, okay," Lance said, turning, "Now I'm curious. You know you didn't have to get me anything, right?"

"Of course I did," Keith said, pulling away to grab the small gift bag on the floor beside the bed. "I hope you like it," he mumbled as he handed Lance the bag.

Lance smiled widely as he reached into the bag and pulled out two rope bracelets, white and braided tightly. Lance ran his fingertips over the braids, then looked up at Keith.

"They're sailors bracelets," he explained. Gently, he took one of the bracelets and worked it over his hand and onto his wrist. "Sailors used to give them to their wives and girlfriends and stuff so they'd have something to remember them by when they left to go out on the sea again." He paused.

"Whenever you leave, I want you to have this so that you can think of me. And I'll think of you too." His face was red. Lance's face broke out in the sweetest sunshine smile Keith'd ever seen. He fit his hand through the rope and admired the simplicity of the gesture. It was beyond meaningful.

"I promise I'll think of you," Lance whispered, twisting the bracelet around his wrist. "And I have a gift for you too," he said shyly. He looked at Keith dead in the eye, all fierce and beautiful. His brown hair fell messily over his face as he raised up a hand to Keith's cheek. Every move he made was slow and calculated, which was unusual.

Keith realized what was happening and he shifted closer, closer still, pressing his forehead to Lance's, then the tips of their noses. He swore that this close, he could count every freckle on Lance's cheeks, every eyelash. Lance was looking down, and his mouth hung slightly ajar. Keith heard his breathing.

Raising up his hand, Keith placed his palm over Lance's collarbone, pressing his thumb right to that soft divot in the middle, just enough that he could feel Lance's heartbeat. It was hammering against the pad of his thumb, and Lance's breath came just a bit faster, a sharp inhale at Keith's touch.

He rubbed his nose against Keith's, tilting his head to the side just a fraction of an inch. Keith's other hand came up to the back of Lance's neck and he exhaled over Lance's lips. Keith rubbed his fingers through the short hair at the nape of Lance's neck. The tension was so thick, he felt he might collapse. Instead, he stilled himself, waiting for Lance.

Lance's lids fluttered shut, and he tilted his head just enough to brush his lips against Keith's slight and soft. He pulled back quickly, surprised by himself. Keith regarded Lance patiently, waiting. His lips tingled. The skin under Lance's freckles was pink. He leaned forward again, barely.

And Lance's eyes were so blue Keith thought me might drown in them. Instead he pulled Lance closer, closer than he should, and invited Lance to close the distance between them. This time, Lance was bolder, pressing his mouth over Keith's with need while his mind exploded in fireworks.

Lance's hands were shaking as they moved to hold Keith's cheeks, so Keith grabbed them mid-kiss and interlocked their fingers, gravity dropping him over Lance's chest as they leaned back on the bed. Lance tasted like chapstick and chocolate covered strawberries (compliments to Edible Arrangements).

Lance pulled back, flirting, making Keith reach for his lips, teasing. A low growl, or something like that, escaped from Keith's throat and he pressed his mouth to Lance's neck instead, satisfaction lighting up in his head when he heard Lance sigh breathily.

Lance reached under Keith's shirt and ghosted his fingertips over his stomach, the froze, yanking his hand back. Keith pulled back, confused. "Sorry," Lance laughed nervously, "I want... to go slower. Slowly. Not yet." His words came out rushed, but Keith understood.

"I know," he said, settling beside Lance instead. Lance was smiling, cheeks still pink, and he ran his index finger over Keith's Cupid's bow.

"Thank you for such a good birthday."

...

Ayyyye <3 hoped you liked the chap!

Okay so first things first, we have two questions that need to be answered haha

First of all, since Shadam is now canon, I've been getting a lot of questions about if I'll have shadam in this fic. Unfortunately, no. I'm gonna stick with my original plan for the endgame for Shiro, BUT, in my next klance fic, it's highly likely that I'll have shadam. I just don't know Adams character yet, so I'd feel wrong writing about him. Plus, you guys know how much I value character development, and I think it's a little bit too late to introduce a new love interest for Shiro at this point in the fic. I'm sorry, guys- I hope you still value shiros endgame :)

Second of all, in response to my last qotd, my favorite scenes and/or episode. I loved season 1, tbh, just because the team was so happy, they were connected and bonding and a team. I love any scene where the team is just laid back, funny, relaxed- I love that side of them and I'm excited because I think we'll see a lot more of that next season. As for my favorite episode- the BONDING MOMENT EPISODE DDYDHDJJF and monsters and mana. I also love the episode where all the lions are separated in the wormhole and Pidge constructs a radar, Shiro and Keith fight off those weird lion things, and Allura and Coran are stuck in the loop lololol SO GOOD!!

Qotd: favorite Voltron inside joke? from the show and/or this fic haha

I love you guys!!